Rex Ryan: My defense is outstanding without a great cornerback

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 12, 2014, 6:20 AM EDT

AP

The Jets are in bad shape at cornerback, but coach Rex Ryan says that’s OK.

With projected starters Dee Milliner and Dimitri Patterson dealing with injuries and third-round rookie Dexter McDougle out for the season with a torn ACL, it would seem to be trouble for Ryan’s defense. But Ryan says his defense can work just fine without a great cornerback.

“I never said I had to have the best corner in football,” Ryan said, via NJ.com. “That’s not it. My defenses work, period. I don’t care what it is. We take what we have, and then we work around it. So we work to the strength of our players, and it’s always players over system. We’ve been around enough that it’ll work out. That’s why, to me, it’s not a panic situation, it’s an opportunity.”

Even if Ryan can’t say right now what his cornerback depth chart will look like when the regular season starts, he can say that he’ll field a good defense.

“This is going to work,” Ryan said. “We just don’t necessarily know how yet. But this defense—one thing we know for a fact, that this defense will be an outstanding defense.”

I simply like Rex– It’s always amusing with this guy in the media with is blunt speaking approach, he’s a one of a kind. I don’t know how many jets fans question his defense, but his career could use some good play at the QB position..

Shut up. Your secondary sucks and you will say anything to get fans in the seats. Rex sold Tebow left,right,and up and down. Only person that was happy was the planes owner because planes fans believed every lie Rex said and paid to go see Tebow fail. Here’s to hoping the planes stay grounded in last place.

With the Jets upgrading the D-line, LB’s and safetys, the corners don’t need to be relied on as much as in the past of Rex’s tenure with the team. I’m sure Rex would have loved to still have a top CB like Cro back there, but realizes that as long as you get to the QB, and not give him time to throw the ball, it doesn’t matter who’s back there.

Come on, haters. I know it’s easy to pile on Rex because he doesn’t just say the same old nothing like every other coach, and I know that you’re lazy and probably not very smart. But if the guy knows one thing it’s defense and anyone would be foolish to underestimate him.

This guy never disappoints when talking to the media. I used to think he was a moron, but his smack about Belichick, him turning his back on the media stunt was hilarious, to him switching places with one of the reporters is classic, o and how could I forget when he wore the wig imitating his brother Rob when the Jets played the Browns.

Him and Spurrier have the best sound bites and acts ever. Keep up the good work Rexy.

Not a huge Rex fan, Pats fan here. But I like his banter with the media, playful attitude, etc… I don’t like the blowhard super confident approach ALL the time, but it’s a nice change of pace from most coaches.

One thing you cannot argue is that the guy can coach up a Def. In some weird world, I wished for Rex’s firing and that the Pats would sign him as a Def coordinator.

When the Jets front seven was comparitively weaker than their defensive backfield, the backfield carried them. Now the roles are reversed. They have the coaches, the talent, and the role players on defense to finish top 10 in yards allowed again.

Points Allowed will always be a problem until they can limit our turnovers – and force a few of their own, 15 is an embarrassing number for the 8th ranked defense in the NFL – and maybe have a few less return touchdowns against us. 6 defensive touchdowns scored against the Jets is INSANE for a single season. The defense actually allowed only 21 points per game when they were on the field. That’s with a turnover differential of -13, 2nd to last in the NFL. More short fields than I can count. An efficient offense would help the Jets defense more than any corner(s) they can pull off the scrap heap or convert from safety at this point.

I’m a patriots fan & have always said that a Rex Ryan defense will give any offensive coordinator problems… but come on now Rex with no secondary & the QB’S your gonna see no matter how good your front seven is your in BIG TROUBLE. …

I love his moxie. That confidence can and often does seep into his players. If he doesn’t sweat, they won’t, at least that’s what he believes. The GM has given him subpar teams that under a Pat Shurmur would be 3-13, but somehow under Rex they are 8-8. He’s the President in Independence Day. He is on the front line taking shots for his players and they all know it.

The Jets were 4th in red zone defense last year with a gimpy Cro and a overwhelmed rookie @ CB. If they stay in top 10 they should be fine. Its the same defense starters as last year sans Cro and he was pretty bad anyway, even tho the media are acting like its the end of the season already cuz they lost a 3rd round rookie. They turn everything into a life or death situation like a bunch of teenage drama queens.

How dare any of you knowledgable NFL and Jets fans come on here and spout off the truth to all the trolls. Rex is a D mastermind and will mask any deficiencies. Funniest thing I saw today, the other 3 teams in the AFC East are ranked in the top 10 for Defense by PFF. Based on schedule, you can count out all 3 of them, but if the Jets are in the top 10 at the end of the year it’s all because of REX

Rex is a clown. You have to start winning first before you can brag. The team is going to do worse then last year. I cant see this guy as a coach. The Jets lost out on Lovie Smith. That was the Coach that could have changed this organization around. With Rex all they ever will be is a punching bag.